Jesus’ disciples are surrounded by a large crowd, arguing with the teachers of the law. Seeing this, Jesus asks why. A man in the crowd appeals to Jesus.
“Teacher, I brought your disciples my son, who is possessed by a spirit to ask them to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
At this, Jesus tells him to bring the boy to Him. The boy goes into a convulsion violently and rolls around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus rebukes the evil spirit.
“You deaf and mute spirit! I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
The spirit shrieks and comes out. The boy looks so much like a corpse that many say, “He’s dead.” But Jesus takes him by the hand and lifts him to his feet, and he stands up.
“Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
At the question of His disciples, Jesus replies, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
Prayer is a pathway to bring in the power of God Almighty. Jesus showed the example of prayer from very early morning as nothing can be accomplished without praying (Mk 1:35).
If what we desperately need in the gospel has not yet been accomplished, let us first examine ourselves to see if we earnestly prayed to God. There is nothing impossible for those who ask God without giving up.